Inner Core and Its Libration Under Gravitational Equilibrium:
Implications to Lower-Mantle Density Anomaly
Abstract
The inner core’s axial torsional libration (ATL) is a manifestation of
the mantle-inner core gravitational (MICG) rotational normal mode. Its
natural period is critically determined by the interior sectoral
quadrupole of (of mass distribution of spherical-harmonic degree 2 and
order 2) belonging to the mantle plus the core-mantle boundary. We
derive the (multipole) formalism to calculate of based on two physical
postulations: (i) Postulation I that equates the observed 6-year
variation in Earth’s length-of-day to ATL as laid out in Chao (2017);
(ii) Postulation II requiring that the shape of IC, thanks to its finite
viscosity, conforms to the gravitational equi-potential surface in the
long term as proposed by Buffett (1997). of being a complex value, its
phase relation with ATL asserts that the major axis of the IC aligns
with that of of subject to the lowest-energy state. The magnitude of of
thus evaluated by Earth parameters is about 0.78 – 1.71 kg m, with the
two endmember values corresponding respectively to IC’s nominal polar
moment of inertia vs. the effective value under 100% tangent-cylinder
coupling. The corresponding equatorial elliptical shape of the IC under
Postulation II has peak-to-peak topography of 75 – 164 m. The acquired
of can serve as source information for inversion on, among others, the
density anomaly of the LLSVP (large low shear velocity provinces)
constructs in the lower mantle.